Land and Sea Breezes

Front

What is a land breeze?

Back

A land breeze is a cool breeze that blows from the land to the sea at night, caused by the land cooling faster than the water.

Front

What is a sea breeze?

Back

A sea breeze is a cool breeze that blows from the sea to the land during the day, caused by the land heating up faster than the water.

Front

Why does land heat up faster than water?

Back

Land heats up faster than water because it has a lower specific heat capacity, meaning it requires less energy to increase its temperature.

Front

What are the prevailing westerlies?

Back

The prevailing westerlies are winds that blow from the west to the east in the temperate zones, affecting weather patterns in the United States.

Front

How does water affect local temperatures?

Back

Water gains and loses heat more slowly than land, which helps to moderate local temperatures and make them milder.

Front

What causes a sea breeze to form?

Back

A sea breeze forms because the land warms up more quickly than the cooler ocean temperatures, causing air over the land to rise and draw in cooler air from the sea.

Front

What happens to air pressure during a land breeze?

Back

During a land breeze, air pressure over the land increases as the land cools, causing the cooler, denser air to move towards the lower pressure over the warmer sea.

Front

What is specific heat capacity?

Back

Specific heat capacity is the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of a substance by one degree Celsius.

Front

Why do temperatures tend to be milder near large bodies of water?

Back

Temperatures are milder near large bodies of water because water can absorb and store heat, releasing it slowly, which prevents extreme temperature changes.

Front

What is the role of the sun in creating breezes?

Back

The sun heats the land and water unevenly, creating temperature differences that lead to the formation of breezes.